This story is produced and presented by Burlington Town Center

The Burlington Town Center redevelopment project, that will bring new streets, new housing, new offices, and new retail to our downtown, won permit approval in March from the Burlington Development Review Board.

It then faced a costly and potentially lengthy appeal from a group of residents opposed to the project. Delay and added costs threatened the project’s success. Fortunately, developer Don Sinex and representatives of the residents opposed to the project sat down and found a way to work out their differences.

Former Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle agreed to help bring together both parties to try to reach a settlement that would address concerns raised by the opponents while allowing the project to proceed. A win-win for all involved. The developer agreed to provide more parking space for approximately 200 vehicles, a key opponent concern in the project’s basement level, and agreed not to enter into a master lease to provide student housing to Champlain College. While the project will go forward exactly as permitted, the developer also agreed that any future development on Burlington Town Center-owned would not exceed 10 stories in height and would provide more onsite parking.

And finally, but not to be overlooked, the terms of the agreement included the establishment by Mr. Sinex of a fund strictly for charitable purposes of up to $500,000 to promote Burlington’s character through "grants to small businesses, local arts and culture, public spaces, community centers, and preservation of designated historically significant architecture and transportation alternatives.”

Bank Street(Photo: Burlington Town Center)

"I think this settlement is the right balance for all of us...the parties, the project and the city as a whole. I appreciate that those who opposed this project were willing to talk and find a way forward," Sinex said.

The settlement must first be approved by the Environmental Court. If that approval is obtained, the project will move to demolition and then construction!

Watch this space for updates as we move forward!

Members of the editorial and news staff of the USA Today Network were not involved in the creation of this content.